SECTION 4. AVIONICS TEST EQUIPMENT
GENERAL. Certificated individuals who maintain airborne avionics equipment, must
have test equipment suitable to perform that maintenance.
The test equipment calibration standards must be derived from and traceable to one of the following: The National Institute of Standards and Technology. Standards established by the test equipment manufacturer. If foreign-manufactured test equipment, the standards of the country, where it was manufactured, if approved by the Administrator. The technician must make sure that the test equipment used for such maintenance is the equipment called for by the manufacturer or equivalent. Before acceptance, a comparison should be made between the specifications of the test equipment recommended by the manufacturer and those proposed by the repair facility. The test equipment must be capable of performing all normal tests and checking all parameters of the equipment under test. The level of accuracy should be equal to or better than that recommended by the manufacturer. For a description of avionics test equipment used for troubleshooting, refer to the equipment or aircraft manufacturing instruction manual.
TEST EQUIPMENT CALIBRATION. Test equipment such as meters, torque wrenches, static, and transponder test equipment should be checked at least once a year. National Institute of Standards and Technology traceability can be verified by reviewing test equipment calibration records for references to National Institute of Standards and Technology test report numbers. These numbers certify traceability of the equipment used in calibration. If the repair station uses a standard for performing calibration, that calibration standard cannot be used to perform maintenance. The calibration intervals for test equipment will vary with the type of equipment, environment, and use. The accepted industry practice for calibration intervals is usually one year. Considerations for acceptance of the intervals include the following: Manufacturer’s recommendation for the type of equipment. Repair facility’s past calibration history, as applicable. If the manufacturer’s manual does not describe a test procedure, the repair station must coordinate with the manufacturer to develop the necessary procedures, prior to any use of the equipment.